By Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON — A U.S. Capitol painting that grabbed national attention after depicting police officers as pigs has been taken down.
Rep. Duncan Hunter told Fox News that he personally took down the painting after his colleague let it stay on display.
“I was angry,” Hunter said. “I’ve seen the press [reporting] on this for about a week or so. … I’m in the Marine Corps. If you want it done, just call us.”
Hunter told the publication Clay is a “great guy,” but “you’ve got to respect our men in uniform and what they do.”
The painting, which had been up in a Capitol hallway since June, received criticism from over 27,000 law enforcement members who called the art a “reprehensible, repugnant and repulsive” painting.
Ron Hernandez, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, said in a statement the display of the painting was not acceptable and they are pleased with the removal.
“At a time of our country facing rising crime and a shortage of those willing to work the streets as police officers and deputy sheriffs, we need to make it clear that depictions of law enforcement officers as pigs in our Nation’s Capital is not acceptable.”